Dr. Ilani has specific interest in evaluation and treatment of pituitary disorders and related hormonal abnormalities.

She contributes as an endocrinologist in Saint John's Pituitary program                                                                           http://newstjohns.org/BTC_Our_Expert_Team.aspx  with a team of experts in neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, head and neck surgery and radiation oncologist. 


Pituitary gland disorders may present with variety of symptoms as below:


Pituitary hormonal deficiency:
Fatigue and/or weakness
Stomach pain, decreased appetite,
Nausea, vomiting and constipation
Excessive thirst and urination
Low red blood cell count
Headache and dizziness
Sensitivity to cold
Weight loss or weight gain
Stiffness in the joints
Low sexual desire and infertility
In children, short stature and problem with puberty

Mass effect from a large pituitary tumor:
Headaches
Visual changes

Pituitary hormone hyper-secretion:

Hyperprolactinemia
Menstrual irregularity and breast discharge in women
Low sexual desire and erectile dysfunction in men

Cushing’s disease
Weight gain, especially in the upper body
Rounded face and extra fat on the upper back and above the collarbones
High blood sugar (diabetes)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Thin bones (osteoporosis)
Muscle loss and weakness
Thin, fragile skin that bruises easily
Purple-red stretch marks (usually over the abdomen and under the arms)
Depression and difficulties thinking clearly
Too much facial hair in women
Irregular or absent menstrual periods and infertility
Reduced sex drive
Poor height growth and obesity in children

Acromegaly
Numbness or burning of the hands or feet
Carpal tunnel syndrome
High blood glucose (sugar)
Heart failure or enlarged heart
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Arthritis
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Sleep apnea (breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep)
Tiredness

If you feel that you are experiencing the above symptoms please consider endocrinology evaluation.
The diagnosis of pituitary disorders and treatments are very delicate and fine area of medicine. 

Pituitary treatments in Santa Monica and Torrance are provided by Dr. Ilani. Please contact us for more information.

What is the pituitary gland and what does it do in our body? 

The pituitary gland is a tiny organ, the size of a pea, found at the base of the brain. It is known as “master gland” and produces many hormones that travel throughout the body, directing certain processes and regulating other glands to produce their hormones.

The pituitary gland makes or stores many different hormones. The following hormones are made in the anterior (front part) of the pituitary gland:

1.Prolactin - Prolactin stimulates breast milk production after childbirth. It also affects sex hormone levels from ovaries in women and from testes (testicles) in men, as well as fertility.

2.Growth hormone (GH) - GH stimulates growth in childhood and GH deficiency in childhood will cause short stature. In adults, it is important for maintaining a healthy body composition, muscle mass and bone mass and overall well-being. It also affects fat distribution in the body.

3.Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) - ACTH stimulates the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Cortisol, a "stress hormone," is vital to our survival. It helps maintain blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) levels, and is produced in larger amounts when we’re under stress—especially after illness or injury.

4.Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) - TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's metabolism, energy balance, growth, and nervous system activity.

5.Luteinizing hormone (LH) - LH stimulates testosterone production in men and egg release (ovulation) in women.

6.Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - FSH promotes sperm production in men and stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and develop eggs in women.

The following hormones are stored in the posterior (back part) of the pituitary gland:

1.    Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - ADH, also called vasopressin, regulates water balance in the body. It conserves body water by reducing the amount of water lost in urine.

2.    Oxytocin – Oxytocin causes milk to flow from the breasts in breastfeeding women, and may also help labor to progress.

Pituitary Tumors

The most frequent type of pituitary disorder is a pituitary gland tumor. These tumors are fairly common in adults. They are not brain tumors and are almost always benign (that is, not cancer). In fact, cancerous tumors of this sort are extremely rare. These tumors are usually called pituitary adenoma.

There are two types of adenomas—secretory and non-secretory. Secretory tumors produce too much of a hormone normally made by the pituitary, and non-secretory tumors do not. The secretory adenomas usually present with clinical symptoms of hormone excess and the symptoms will depend on the hormone, which has autonomous secretion, while the non-secretory adenomas usually present with symptoms of mass effect or hormonal deficiency.

The problems caused by pituitary tumors fall into three general categories:

.    Hypersecretion: Too much of any hormone in the body is caused by a secretory pituitary tumor.

.    Hyposecretion: Too little of any hormone in the body can be caused by a large pituitary tumor, which interferes with the pituitary gland’s ability to produce hormones. Hyposecretion can also result from surgery or radiation of a tumor.

.    Tumor mass effects: As a pituitary tumor grows and presses against the pituitary gland or other areas in the brain, it may cause headaches, vision problems, or other health effects.

Injuries, certain medications, bleeding inside or close to the pituitary, and other conditions can also affect the pituitary gland. Loss of normal pituitary function also can occur after major head trauma.